Rhythm of Us: Book 2 Of The Fated Hearts Series by Aimee Nicole Walker Read Free Book Online Page B

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    What could I really offer Max and his mom? My life had become a fucked-up mess and it seemed like I was the last person who should be giving advice to a confused kid and his mother. On the other hand, my early years of wearing feminine clothes had nothing to do with my current predicament. I felt more relaxed when I realized that all I really needed to do what sit and listen to the little guy and maybe offer an encouraging word or two to him and his mom. I was overthinking things and stressing myself out for no good reason.
    I had bigger fish to fry anyway. I hadn’t heard from Ben all damn day and I was getting more and more agitated with every minute that passed without a word from him. I expected him to check up on Ellie this morning or at lunch and text or call me, but nothing. He wasn’t much of friend to her if he couldn’t be bothered to do a simple thing, like make sure she felt better.
    I heard the front door fly open followed by a loud thud and the sound of someone running down the hallway towards the bedrooms and bathrooms. I turned the burner down on low and scrambled out of the kitchen to see what was going on. I saw Ellie’s purse and briefcase laying on the floor just inside the door. I picked them up and set them on the couch and shut the front door. I went in search of my sister and found her in the master bathroom leaning over the toilet, her body shaking as it dry heaved repeatedly.
    “Morning sickness my ass,” she growled, not realizing I was standing in the doorway.
    “El,” I said softly, coming into the room and kneeling beside her. I tried not to scare her, but I did anyway. Her frightened, big brown eyes looked huge against her ashen complexion. “You’re pregnant?” I asked quietly while I kneeled down beside her.
    “I fucked up, Xavier,” she said tearfully and leaned her head against my chest. “I’m so damn stupid.”
    “No you’re not,” I said while stroking her hair. “You’re brilliant, but even intelligent people get pregnant unexpectedly.” I tried to be supportive and happy for my sister, but all I could think about was my own misery over Ben having sex with her. I’d always known he wasn’t meant for me, but there was this tiny part of me that hoped it would be so. That same jealousy I had felt at the bowling alley burned through my body, but I pushed away my feelings and focused on Ellie.
    “I was so stupid, Xavier.” She began crying in earnest now, her tears quickly soaking through my t-shirt. I sat down on the floor beside her so I could be more comfortable and rocked her back and forth, whispering words of love and encouragement. “I thought he loved me, but I should have known I was just like the rest of them. He used me for sex just like his other conquests.”
    The fire that raged through my veins completely obliterated the longing I’d felt just seconds earlier. I knew that Ben was a player by his own admission, but I thought what he felt for my sister was special, tender even. I saw the way he looked at her, touched her, and held her like he cherished her above anyone else. Why would he treat someone he obviously cared about that way? There was only one way to find out and I planned on talking to him as soon as I got my sister settled.
    “El, I warmed up some chicken soup for you and bought you some more Sprite and crackers. How about you get cleaned up and I’ll bring you a tray so you can eat in bed. I know you probably don’t feel like eating, but you should probably try for yourself and the baby.”
    Ellie cried even harder. “You are so good, Xavier, and I am such a fuck-up.”
    “I’m not good, El. I was really fucked up this past year and I’m in no position to sit in judgement of anyone, even if I wanted to, and I don’t. I will tell you about it sometime when things have settled down. It will cheer you right up when you learn how stupid I was.”
    “I’ll never be cheerful over your misery, X.” She sat up and looked into my